Disc golf has exploded in popularity over the last decade, with players of all ages falling in love with throwing flying discs down scenic wooded fairways into distant chains. As you advance your disc golf skills, understanding the flight characteristics of various disc types and models will transform your game. This especially applies when developing forehand (sidearm) throwing technique.
The spin applied on forehand throws requires discs with specialized stability and fade to fly true. Whether amateur or professional, all forehand throwers can choose equipment that boosts consistency, unleashes distance, and expands shot-shaping creativity. This guide covers flight ratings and top recommendations for the best disc golf discs to elevate forehand prowess at any stage.
Choosing the Right Forehand Disc Plastic
An important but oft-overlooked factor when selecting forehand discs involves the type of plastic blend used. Base plastics work well for newer players as they beat in quicker to desired flights. But premium plastics have advantages too for forehand reliability.
Premium Plastic Blends
Models produced in premium plastics like Champion, Z Line, Neutron, and Opto maintain that crucial stability longer over months and years of play. Their slick, grippy finish also enables clean releases and more spin off the forehand. Choose premium plastic discs to hold lines with minimal turn and fade.
Base Plastic Blends
For those still honing form and building power, base plastic discs serve as inexpensive “workhorse” options. Their low cost brings forgiveness while increased drag helps limit distance on off-axis hucks during the learning process. Players can tune flights with intentional trees hits. In time, base plastic beats in to gracious turnovers.
Entry-Level Forehand Discs for Novices
Starting out with fitting entry-level discs prevents beginner frustration and limitations when developing forehand mechanics. Understable fairways paired with neutral putters builds early confidence in sidearm capability.
Dynamic Discs Fuzion Deputy
A straight flying putter like the Deputy holds whatever forehand release angle you initially apply. Minimal turn or fade lets newer players concentrate on clean acceleration snaps rather than battling excessive stability out of the hand. Deputy’s floaty glide reduces nose angle punishment too.
Latitude 64 Opto Fuse
For an easy handling fairway driver off the forehand side, turn to the Opto Fuse. Predictable turnovers come naturally courtesy of Fuse’s understandable low speed flight ratings. Use hyzer angles to shape basic S-curves while honing angle control. Fuse shows beginners how understable discs extend down fairways.
Discraft ESP Zone
When needing confidence inspiring fade on those touchy forehand approaches, reach for the overstable ESP Zone. Zone delivers reliably into headwinds with a dump finish instead of glancing past poles. Forehand approaches now stick tight rather than skidding wide of baskets. Zone builds fundamentals.
Caring Properly for Your Favorite Discs
Make top forehand discs last longer by keeping them protected and clean. Avoid leaving them outside exposed to damaging UV rays, extreme cold or intense heat constantly which accelerates wear. Also periodically wipe dirt off with a soft cloth to minimize gritty abrasions during throwing motions. Proper care keeps discs flying further.
Intermediate Forehand Discs for Added Distance
After mastering control, intermediate forehand throwers need distance drivers able to track straight under increased spin torque. Blend these step-up models into your bag to ratchet up sidearm power while building confidence:
Innova Champion Tern
Among the best distance drivers for forehand dominate players, the Champion Tern minimizes unwanted fade allowing smooth acceleration into a prolonged straight flight with gentle finish. Less aim precision concern lets you rip progressive power while focusing on clean mechanics. Tern provides incremental distance bumps as skills mature.
Discraft Z Flick
Purpose built for forehand shots, the overstable Z Flick lives up to its reputation for accuracy while allowing warp speed throws. Flick’s open wing profile handles heavy rotational forces generated off sidearm snap, maintaining line integrity when throwing with intense power. It always dumps left down fairways.
MVP Proton Photon
Proton Photons showcase optimized aerodynamics not compromising glide or distance – critical for new distance benchmarks. Intermediate forehand technicians learn to shape laser lines at range or stick flex shot landings thanks to Photon’s physics-defying flight plate technology.
Advanced Forehand Discs For Shot-Shaping Mastery
Top touring professionals lean on their perfectly tuned “money” discs to stick signature trick shots off the tee or down narrow gaps. Blending overstable utility models, Flippy understable bombers, and worn-in Flippy drivers expands any player’s forehand shot varieties tenfold.
Discraft Elite Z Predator
The Predator ranks as one of the very few molds overspeed stable enough for elite sidearm specialists. Using perfected form, top pros can torque Predator over onto forever Turn flights carving right around forested corners with minimal fade. Predator delivers unmatched lines when thrown 400+ feet.
Axiom Neutron Insanity
Push understable possibilities to their absolute limits by unleashing the Neutron Insanity distance driver on extreme anhyzer lines stretching wide right before gently fading back left at the climax. The Insanity also shines for downhill Skip Ace lines, sky high spike hyzers and long range flex shots when field needs flipping up.
Innova Echo Star Roadrunner
While the Roadrunner flies true to overstable ratings in fresh premium plastic, Echo Star beats in relatively quickly off trees to become the perfect tailwind turnover disc choice. Experienced players now use Roadrunner to sky backhand rollers – or throw expert forehand rollers riding the right edge after slight hyzer pop and flip up for glide record rides.
The best way to rapidly advance forehand capabilities involves progressively matching versatile discs to your current ability level – then gradually working up to higher speed molds exhibiting more radical flight shapes. Watching instructional videos from elite forehand professionals reveals nuanced form tips as well. With dedicated practice using properly fitting equipment, forehand skill transforms into your most dependable scoring weapon to tame any course. Let these suggestions guide your disc golf forehand journey to dominance!Conclusion
The best way to advance forehand skills involves matching versatile discs to your current ability level, and then gradually working up to faster models with more radical flight shapes. Watching clinic videos from top forehand throwers also provides useful form tips. With practice using properly fitting equipment, the forehand will transform into your most reliable weapon. Let these disc suggestions launch laser-guided missiles off the tee and through wooded tunnels. Just listen for distant chains to confirm your growing forehand greatness.
